How to Find the Perfect Digital Marketing Agency in Singapore

Having an outside marketing team has always been a good strategy in business, but now, with so much advertising being online in various platforms, a digital agency is a necessity for nearly any company.

Choosing the right digital agency, however, can make the difference between an effective digital presence and a waste of time and money. The industry is growing so quickly that it can be easy to become overwhelmed by all the choices.

Just picking the agency with the cheapest rates may not be the wisest decision in the long-run.

Instead, maximize the return on your investment by carefully considering which agency will bring in the most value to your business and provide a satisfying digital experience for your customers.

Know What Your Business Needs from a Digital Agency

The first step in finding the best agency for your business is to assess your needs.

• Do you expect to reach most of your customers through social media, your website, or some other form of digital presence?
• What digital avenues are most vital to your company and in your industry?
• What do you want to achieve with digital marketing?
• What products or services are you trying to market? 
• How much time do you have?
• What are your concerns? 

It is also important to understand whether your business is globally or locally focused.

Do you need an agency based in Singapore that really understands the local culture, or is your business global and is an international expertise vital to your success?

Once you really understand what you need (to the best of your ability—naturally, this is something a good agency should also help you with), you can better evaluate the strengths of any digital marketing agency you might consider hiring.

Budget: How much can you pay?

Equally important is establishing your budget. A reputable digital agency should be able to work within any financial constraints, but entering a business relationship requires a clear understanding of your financial capacity and willingness to invest.

Knowing your budget upfront ensures that both parties have realistic expectations and can work together effectively to achieve your business goals without financial strain. 

The agency should evaluate your budget for the digital marketing campaign and whether your campaign goals are achievable within the budget.

In the first few meetings, you should be presented with the assurance, or the concern about whether this would be possible.

Evaluate the Agency’s Track Record

Next, explore the agency’s track record. They should have a client list or showcase on their website (the lack of such transparency is a definite red flag), and you can check if other successful businesses you recognize use the agency.

Reviews and Testimonials can also be a useful indicator of their effectiveness.

Ask about the working style and what the communication would be like. Ask the agency how they handle a difficult client or a difficult situation that might be common in your industry.

Finding out how they have handled conflict can be very telling and you’ll be able to see if the agency would be a good fit for you.

Consider each Agency’s Expertise and Industry Knowledge

Experience is obviously an important factor in choosing an agency, but consider the type of experience you value the most. Years in business might not be enough. How often has the agency worked with companies in your industry?

Some experts maintain that to be effective, a digital agency must have a deep understanding of the industry it is representing.

Indeed, some knowledge of the industry can allow the agency to avoid errors in your online content and also help them draw in clients.

They also might have proven strategies for marketing and promoting your kind of business.

An outsider perspective can also prove helpful for your campaigns. As someone with extensive knowledge of your business, you might actually not be the best person to market yourself.

Someone who knows less about the industry could be better able to determine how to reach potential customers by approaching marketing from the perspective of a client with perhaps less industry insider knowledge.

When you finally meet them, do they have a plan?

After you have narrowed your search down to a few agencies, you can begin to contact them and find out more specifics about how they would approach digital marketing for your company.

At this point, you can find out if they can produce a specific, detailed, and effective plan for your company. A good agency should have ideas from the first time you meet with or contact them.

• Do they understand how to reach your clients, and do they have a clear plan for how to accomplish the goals you have identified for them?
• Do they truly understand the needs of your business?
• Do they have creative ideas and are they receptive to your ideas but, equally importantly, are they willing to say no?

An agency that immediately agrees with everything you propose either does not know their business or will not be willing to do what is best for your company.

Look out for red flags. 

Can you work with them, personally?

Finally, as you discuss the agency’s ideas for digitally marketing your company, notice whether you are able to develop a rapport with their representatives.

• Are they people you can work with?
• Is interacting with them pleasant or painful?
• Do their company values align with yours? 

It may seem like a small point, but business relationships are just that—relationships—and in the end, whether you find them easy or difficult to get along with will affect your joint effectiveness. 

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